Folding table.



I. MORAFF.

FOLDING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED 0017, 191 0.

997,079. Patented July 4,1911.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0,. WASHINGTON. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TSRAEL MORAFF, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO JOSEPH HAHNESANID, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FOLDING TABLE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISRAEL MonArr, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, borough of the Bronx, county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved folding-table, which is intended for use in camping and for out-of-door use in general, also for use as a card-table, especially for euchre parties where a large number of tables are required and which can be folded away and stored until required for use again.

The invention consists of a folding-table, which comprises a top made of rolling slats which gradually increase in size from the sideslats toward the center, transverse braces hinged to the side-slats at diagonally opposite ends, recesses at the remaining diagonally-opposite ends of said side-slats for receiving said braces, detachable folding toggle-lever brace frames connecting with the side-slats, and inclined braces pivoted to the side-rails at their upper ends and engaging at their recessed lower ends headed studs on the upright legs of the folding braceframes.

The invention consists further in certain details of construction which will be fully described hereinafter and finally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improved folding-table; Figs. 2 and 3 are, respectively, end and side elevations of the table; Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the table; Fig. 5 is an elevation of one of the togglelever brace-frames folded up; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the folding top folded up; and Fig. 7 represents a vertical transverse section taken on the line 77, Fig. 6.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures.

Referring to the drawings, a represents the top of my improved foldingtable, b the supporting-legs and b the transverse toggle-lever brace-frames for the same. The top is made of a number of slats a and siderails a which are connected at their under sides by a web w of stout canvas or other suitable fabric, so that the slats can be rolled up inwardly toward each other, as shown in Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 7, 1910.

Patented J uly 4:, 1911.

Serial No. seems.

Figs. 6 and 7. For this purpose the center slat a is made wldest, the ad acent slats somewhat less wide, the next following slats of a still smaller width in order, and so on toward the side-slats a so as to permit the folding up of the slats toward the widest center slat from both ends of the top, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The side-slats a are reinforced by rails (Z, which are attached to the under sides of the side-slats and web w.

To diagonally opposite ends of the siderails (Z are hinged transverse brace-pieces c, which are folded alongside of the side-rails when the top has to be folded up and which are moved transversely toward the opposite side-rails when the top is to be held in unrolled position for use. The outer ends of the hinged braces-pieces c then engage in tapering recesses e, which are arranged in the inner faces of the remaining diagonal ends of the side-rails cl. When the hinged brace-rods are in pf'oper position, extending from one end of the side-rails to the opposite side-rail, the side-rails and the brace-- pieces hold the slats firmly in horizontal position so as to present a smooth and even top for the table and prevent the sagging of the same between the side-rails.

Near the ends of the side-rails (Z are arranged the supporting legs Z), which are provided at their upper ends with tenons 12*, which are inserted into mortises arranged at the under side of each end of the side-rails d. Each pair of legs 6 is connected by the transverse folding togglelever brace-frame 6 which is formed of a pair of intercrossing braces that are pivoted at their point of crossing, .and also at their lower ends to the legs 6, and at their upper ends to a pair of toggle-levers b at some distance from their ends, the toggle-levers being pivoted at their outer or lower ends to the middle portion of the legs Z), as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and The toggle-lever brace-frames can readily be folded up into the position shown in Fig. 5 when the same are detached from the tabletop a. The upper ends of the legs are con nected by means of pivot-hooks h with eyes h at the under side of the side-rails, so as to prevent the detaching of the top from the legs when lifting the table for moving it from place to place. The legs 6 are further connected with the middle portions of the side-rails by means of inclined braces g, which are pivoted at their upper ends to lOtL cleats 9 attached to the under side of the middle portions of the side-rails d, and by their lower recessed ends to headed pins 9 on the inner faces of the legs Z). The legs and their toggle-lever brace-frames are preferably made of wood, while the inclined braces g are preferably made of metal, so as to permit the folding of the latter to the under side of the rails when detaching the legs and their brace-frames from the tabletop. When the parts are connected to each other, a strong and firm table is obtained, the parts being firmly held in position by the toggle-lever brace-frames of the legs and the inclined braces g and by the transverse brace-pieces 6 extending between the ends of the-side-rails, by which the top is held firmly in unrolled position.

Vhen it is desired to fold up the table for shipment and storage, the hooks h of the legs are first detached from the eyes 72. at the end of the side-rails, after which the tenons' b of the legs are removed from the mortises in the side-rails and the inclined braces g detached from the headed pins 9 on the legs and folded onto the under side of the siderails (Z in line with the inner surfaces of the cleats 9 The legs and their braceframes are then folded toward each other, as shown in Fig. 5, after which the hinged brace-pieces e of the table-top are released from the recesses at diagbnally opposite ends and folded toward the siderails to which they are hinged, so that the slats of the table-top can be rolled up from the sides toward the center into the shape shown in Figs. 4 and 7. Two separate packages are made for shipment and storage, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

On the upper horizontal portions of the extended brace-frames can be supported a shelf 8, which, like the top, is made of rolling slats s backed by a web or by means of suitable hinges. This shelf, when supported on the extended brace-frames 5 between the legs, serves for placing different articles thereon. The shelf is also folded up after use and is then tied up and packed away with the rolled-up top and foldedup leg brace-frames so that the parts are readily available for use again.

The advantages for my improved foldingtable are that it takes up comparatively small space when folded up, that it can be manufactured at a small expense, and that it can be used by all persons when camping and can be bought by persons of moderate means.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a folding table, a rolling top composed of a plurality of slats having flexible connections therebetween, the middle slat be ing the widest, the alternate slats of the remaining slats progressively diminishing in width toward the end slats by increments as great as the thickness of the slats; side rails attached to the underside of the end slats, transverse brace pieces hinged respectively to diagonally opposite'ends of the side rails and adapted to be locked by their outer ends to the remaining diagonally opposite ends of the side rails; detachable legs at the ends of the side rails; and transverse toggle lever brace frames between the legs of adjacent ends of opposite side rails, said frames each consisting of brace levers pivoted one each to the lower part of each leg respectively, said brace levers being pivoted together near their upper ends, and toggle levers pivoted to the upper part of the legs and each pivoted near its inner end to the upper end of the brace lever pivoted to the opposite leg, the inner ends of the toggle levers being free and adapted when the table is set up to rest upon the brace lever pivoted to the same leg.

2. In a folding table, a rolling top composed of a plurality of slats having flexible connections therebetween, the middle slat being the widest, the alternate slats of the remaining slats progressively diminishing in width toward the end sla'ts by increments as great as the thickness of the slats; side rails attached to the underside of the end slats, transverse brace pieces hinged respectively to diagonally opposite ends of the side rails and adapted to be locked by their outer ends to the remaining diagonally opposite ends of the side rails; detachable legs at the ends of the side rails; transverse toggle lever brace frames bet-ween the legs of adjacent ends of opposite side rails, said frames each consisting of brace levers pivoted one each to the lower part of each leg respectively, said brace levers being pivoted together near their upper ends, and toggle levers pivoted to the upper part of the legs and each pivoted near its inner end to the upper end of the brace lever pivoted to the opposite leg, the inner ends of the toggle levers being free and adapted when the table is set up to rest upon the brace lever pivoted to the same leg, and to form a straight edge with the other toggle lever; and a folding-shelf supported on the straight edge formed by the toggle lever brace frames. 9

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ISRAEL MORAFF. Witnesses PAUL GoEPEL, JOHN MURTAGH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, 'Washington, D. C. 

